34 AV0YAG£T0 Book I. 



age, after which they generally decline as faft as they 

 rofe ; and frequently, before they arrive at that age, 

 when they fhould begin to reap the advantage of theii^ 

 fhudies, a natural indolence checks their farther pro- 

 grefs, and they forfake the fciences, leaving the fiir- 

 prizing effeds of their capacity imperfedl. 



The principal caufe of the fhort duration of fuch 

 promifmg beginnings, and of the indolent turn fo of- 

 ten feen in thefe bright geniufes, is doubtlefs the want 

 of proper obje6ls for exercifmg their faculties, and the 

 fmall hopes of being preferred to any poll anfwerable 

 to the pains they have taken. For as there is in this 

 country neither army nor navy, and the civil employ- 

 ments very few, it is not at all furprizing that the def- 

 pair of making their fortunes, by this method, fhould 

 damp their ardor for excelling in the fciences, and 

 plunge them into idlenefs, the fure forerunner of vice ; 

 where they lofe the ufe of their reafon, and ftifle thofe 

 good principles which fired them when young and un- 

 der proper fubjedlion. The fame is evident in the 

 mechanic arts, in which they demonftrate a furprizing 

 flcill in a very little time *, but foon leave thefe alfo 

 imperfed, v;ithout attempting to improve on the me- 

 thods of their maders. Nothing indeed is more fur- 

 prizing than the early advances of the mind in this 

 country, children of two or three years of age con- 

 verfmg v/ith a regularity and ferioufnefs that is rarely 

 feen in Europe at fix or feven ; and at an age when they 

 can fcarce fee the light, are acquainted with all the 

 depths of wickednefs. 



The genius of the Americans being more forward 

 than that of the Europeans, many have been willing to 

 believe that it alfo fooner decays ; and that at fixty 

 years, or before, they have outlived that folid judgement 

 and penetration, fo general among us at that time of 

 life \ and it has been faid that their genius decays, 

 whilil that of the Europeans is haflening to its matu- 

 rity and perfedion. But this is a vulgar prejudice, con- 

 2 - futed 



